A Tribute to Slider: The Big Brown Dog Who Saved a Life
Beautiful photo of Slider on the beach.
Slider was a big brown dog no one wanted. His time in the shelter was running out and he was destined for euthanasia. Slider needed to find his forever home soon. Week after week, he and his FOJA champion, Carolyn Edwards, waited patiently at each adoption event for his forever family to walk through the door and claim him. One Saturday, a family took him home, but as fate would have it, it was not a good match. On a routine home visit, Carolyn discovered that Slider was being abused by a well-meaning but totally overwhelmed owner who didn’t have the energy or know how to provide a good home for a big brown dog.
In a ‘last ditch effort’ to find a home for Slider, Carolyn reached out to K9s for Warriors and convinced them to consider Slider. This was not an easy sell as Slider didn’t meet some of their standard criteria. Luckily, the staff recognized Slider’s potential and he was admitted into their training program.
Meanwhile, Charlie was in trouble. Charlie is a Navy veteran who returned home from active duty in 2006. Angry, sleepless and depressed, Charlie suffered from the debilitating effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome he acquired as a result of his distinguished service during two tours in Iraq. His day-to-day reality was plagued by painful memories that eventually imprisoned him. As the years passed, the scope of Charlie’s life narrowed. He could barely even leave his house. Charlie wasn’t the only victim of his demons, his family suffered as well. Finally, Charlie’s therapist told him, “You need a dog.” Even though Charlie was more than skeptical, he cooperated with the plan. The walls were caving in on him. He was desperate for relief. He agreed to keep an appointment at K9’s for Warriors.
And then, a miracle happened! Charlie and Slider met and it was love at first sight. Charlie says he felt as if he was ‘struck by lightning.” The attraction, the bond, and the understanding were instantaneous. Slider offered Charlie his paw and the deal was struck. They spent a mere three weeks training together at K9’s for Warriors. During that time, Charlie learned that Slider had some trauma issues of his own. Chain leashes, metal bowls, brooms and anything held over his head triggered a fear response in Slider. As the pair learned about each other’s issues, they also learned ways to comfort and reassure each other. When training ended, Slider donned his vest knowing he had a job to do for a man and his family who loved and cherished him. Slider had found his forever home!
Slider and Charlie became an inseparable duo who, together, developed the confidence and the courage to live life to the fullest. With Slider by his side, Charlie and his family were out of the house and on their way to all kinds of adventures. They lived the RV life going from destination to destination unafraid to experience new surroundings. They showed up to NASCAR races and minor league baseball games able to cheer on their favorites despite the noise and the chaos. Frequent trips to the beach were Slider’s favorite. He rolled in the sand, dug in the puddles and waded into the surf. The big brown dog became a big brown muddy mess!
Slider was featured in FOJA’s table book “Better Together: A Friends of Jacksonville Animals Story.” To see more and to purchase the book, click here.
Slider poses in between two wood carvings of Slider that his parents Carol and Charlie had made of him. They donated one to K9s for Warriors and the other guards their house by the front door.
For many years, life was good and got even better. Slider and Charlie settled into a dependable if not always predictable daily routine. Slider’s uncanny ability to read Charlie (and others) enabled him to sense when to approach to offer a loving gaze, a paw on the arm or to put his head in Charlie’s lap. Charlie says that Slider literally saved his life, just as Charlie had literally saved Slider’s life until the inevitable end.
On August 4th of this year, at the age of 15, Slider succumbed to the debilitating effects of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. He passed away peacefully in Charlie’s loving arms in his forever home.
Mission completed sweet boy. Rest in peace.
Foster Dog = Love at First Sight
By Andrea Zarate
My name is Andrea and I have been blessed to be the mom of sweet Lucy. It all started 4 years ago when I decided to foster a dog from ACPS. I had already been fostering kittens for a couple years at that point and I knew I wanted to bring a dog into my life. I never grew up with a dog and this would be my first time having a dog. That is why I chose to foster one first and get the hang of things.
One day there was a foster need for a small mixed breed dog who needed a calm place to recover from her injuries. She was hit by a car and brought into the shelter since she was apparently a stray. She had a fractured pelvis and injured front leg that she couldn't walk on. I saw her sweet face and knew she was the pup that I wanted to foster.
Lucy and her mom
“Our family fell in love with her and we knew she belonged with us.”
I brought her home and she hopped around on her 3 good legs... I called her my kangaroo. She was so sweet and even got along with our cats. It was a perfect fit from the start. After she recovered from her fractured pelvis it was time for the shelter's vet to figure out what to do with her injured leg. They realized it was actually an older injury that was never treated and healed incorrectly. It was painful for her and they decided it was better for her to have it fully amputated. She went through the surgery and I continued to foster her through her recovery. It was tough but I was with her every step of the way.
We officially adopted her once she was medically cleared from her amputation, but her journey to a healthy life was not over yet. Lucy was heartworm positive when she arrived at the shelter. She then had to go through months of tough treatment, but she is now heartworm negative! All of her heartworm treatment was free for us since it was all paid for by FOJA.
Having only 3 legs has not stopped Lucy from being such a vibrant and active pup! She still chases after squirrels and doesn't know she's any different than other pups.
She's our little princess and has a special place in our hearts. I couldn't imagine life without her!!
Tripods Rule!
Being 3-legged doesn’t slow Lucy down one bit!
Why I Foster and Adopt
By Lisa Graham
I tend to take on the dogs with special needs. Like the dog that needed time to heal from an imbedded collar. Or dogs healing from surgery or dogs that need a foster so they can have the surgery they need or dogs that need fostering through heartworm treatment.
Do you know Friends of Jacksonville Animals (FOJA) here in Jacksonville helps Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS) cover heartworm treatments and some surgeries? They also help with special tests the shelter can’t do themselves.
I have fostered many dogs that need socialization and time with friendly dogs so they can learn to have fun and learn to be a real dog. Then there are those that are called “foster failures.” These are dogs that started as fosters but I adopted. They’re not foster failures to me though. They were chosen for me and I was always supposed to adopt them.
Below are a few of the special dogs I have helped.
Some people say I’m special for helping these dogs. The truth is I’m selfish. I may help these dogs, but the way they make ME feel when they trust me after not trusting anyone is something I strive for. That first kiss, the first time they come up to me and roll over for a belly rub and the first time they want to climb in my lap makes my life better.
Don’t you want those feelings too?
Go by the shelter, look at the dogs or cats, find one you want to foster or maybe you’ll find one you want to adopt. They need you! They need us to help them, to love them, to give them a nice place to sleep, to wrap our arms around them and cuddle. Maybe you need those cuddles just as much.
Visit ACPS Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm at 2020 Forest Street Jacksonville FL 32204.
Vinnie & Gordon
Vinnie was living on a chain almost dead from starvation when I rescued him. I worked on fattening him up and he is the love of my life at 13 now. I fostered Gordon through leg surgery and he became a helper dog working with dogs that had issues with other dogs. He stayed calm and didn’t react to growls or barks directed at him.
Mama & Dyson
Dyson the blind dog that was so chill and happy in his own little world or cuddled up with his buddy.
Mama, an old female dog taken from a hoarding situation who had many litters. She was bowlegged and blind in one eye, but loved taking care of other dogs whether scared or sick. I think she played mama dog to the other dogs because she couldn’t be with her own puppies.
Crosby
Then there is the dog Crosby that was rescued from a fighting ring who was terrified of people more than dogs. Dogs taught him how to be a real dog and that he could trust most people.
Hurricane Season is Here - Be Pet Prepared
Hurricane season is here. Is your hurricane kit ready to go? Here are a few tips to make sure that you are prepared before the next storm.
1. Have a plan. Make plans ahead of time to evacuate to somewhere that is pet friendly, such as a pet-friendly shelter, hotel, or family and friends.
2. Make a kit. The kit should include food, water, and any medications that your pet may need. Keep a copy of your pet's medical records on hand. Have a collar, leash, disposable bags, food, and water bowls in your kit. Make sure to have crates available that can be used at a shelter if needed. Have a recent photo of your pet in case you become separated.
3. Make sure identification is current. Keep a collar and tag with current information on your pet. Consider microchipping your pet. Microchips won’t get lost.
4. Make sure vaccinations are up to date. Make sure their vaccinations are up to date so you don’t have any issues if you have to leave your pet in a safe place.
10 Ways to Cool Down Your Dog and Prevent Heat Exhaustion
Pet parents and their fur babies alike enjoy a nice sunny day, but sometimes summer temperatures can reach extreme levels. Just like us hoomans, high temps can make our pets uncomfortable, agitated, and sometimes aggressive.
With heatstroke in dogs being very dangerous and sometimes fatal, it’s important to know why dogs experience heat exhaustion, as well as risk factors and signs your dog might be hot.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to cool down a dog in the hot summer sun, then you’re in luck. This article will provide simple and effective methods to keep your doggo cool all through the hot summer and also share ways to relieve your pet’s pain as quickly as possible.
Read the full article from Honest Paws here: https://www.honestpaws.com/blog/how-to-cool-down-a-dog.
Hurricane Pet Safety Checklist
Hurricane season runs June-November. Here’s a nice checklist to help keep your pets safe.
The NY Cat & Dog Film Fest Comes to Jacksonville This Weekend!
THE 2019 DOG FILM FEST
Saturday, August 31, 2019
12:00 PM 2:00 PM
Sunray Cinema (map)
The NY Dog Film Festival™ is an annual celebration of the love between dogs and their people, through short films from around the world that inspire, educate and entertain, benefiting the Friends of Jacksonville Animals (FOJA).
Buy Dog Film Fest tickets: 14438.formovietickets.com
Follow the Dog Film Fest on Facebook
See the Dog Film Fest lineup
[These films are free of physical or verbal abuse toward people or animals. The only tears you might shed would be tears of joy for happy endings. The programs are designed for adult audiences but can be enjoyed by all members of the family, including mature children.]
THE 2019 CAT FILM FEST
Sunday, September 1, 2019
12:00 PM 2:00 PM
Sunray Cinema (map)
The NY Cat Film Festival™ is an annual celebration of the cats who share our lives, through short films from around the world that inspire, educate and entertain, benefiting The Friends of Jacksonville Animals (FOJA).
Buy Cat Film Fest tickets: 14438.formovietickets.com
Follow the Cat Film Fest on Facebook
See the Cat Film Fest lineup
Adopt Zorro the Amazing Tripod!
Meet Zorro the amazing tripod! This wonderful boy has stolen the hearts of us here at FOJA. Zorro has been in a loving foster home for many months recuperating with a leg injury that would not heal. He recently had his front leg amputated, but that's not stopping him from having fun! Zorro now thinks 4 paws are overrated and is getting along just great with 3!
60 lbs, 5 years old
Crate trained
House trained
Plays fetch
Good leash manners
Won't chew or destroy your personal property
This baby boy is great at dog parks! He loves to play with other medium to large size dogs like himself. (Zorro prefers older children, and is not a big fan of cats.)
It's time for this very affectionate snuggle boy to go to his furever home! Schedule a meet and greet so you can fall in love with him like we all have!
Zorro is currently being fostered at Kamp Kritter Rescue. Please contact Allison Abbott at (904) 607-2438 to met Zorro!
Amazon Prime Day is July 15-16! Shop to Benefit FOJA!
Did you know AmazonSmile donates to the charity of your choice when you shop? Same prices, same products you know and love on Amazon. Only difference is when you shop, Amazon donates up to 5% of the purchase price to charity.
And don’t worry! AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
YOU SHOP.
AMAZONSMILE GIVES TO FOJA!
Get ready for Amazon Prime Days July 15-16. It’s like Black Friday but in July!
Set up FOJA as your charity now
so when you’re shopping those epic Prime Day deals,
you’ll help Jacksonville’s shelter animals too!
Here’s how:
1. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/35-2349687.
2. Log in to your Amazon account.
3. You will be prompted to select a charity.
4. If FOJA doesn’t display, search Friends of Jacksonville Animals Inc.
5. Important! Be sure to select the right charity located in Jacksonville FL.
6. Every time to you shop, go to smile.amazon.com first so FOJA gets $$$!
Shop at Winn-Dixie Chaffee Road to Benefit FOJA!
Friends of Jacksonville Animals has been selected by as the benefiting non-profit in the Community Bag Program for the entire month of May!
Friends of Jacksonville Animals will receive a $1 donation every time a $2.50 reusable Community Bag is sold during the month of May at the store located at:
Winn-Dixie 703 Chaffee Road, Jacksonville FL
ALL MONTH LONG IN MAY!
SHOP AND DONATE!
Help FOJA buy new kennels for ACPS cats!
Our city shelter, ACPS, was built 10 years ago. The cat kennels have housed literally tens of thousands of cats and they’re more than a little rundown! They are also out-of-date with current shelter management best practices. FOJA is running a campaign to buy new kennels that will reduce stress on the cats, better control the spread of disease, and create a nicer environment for adopters to visit the cats (and help us get more adoptions!)
One cat cage at ACPS door closed with twist-tie
Donate now and double your donation!
To house the 75+ cats the shelter typically has in adoptions, FOJA needs to raise $40,000. Until January 31st, a generous donor will match your donation $1 for $1. (Minimum $5 donation required.)
With your donation, you get a memorial pet tag stamped with the initials of your choosing to honor yourself, your pet, or a human you love. You also have the option of sending in your own pet tag. A local artist will use the tags to create a permanent art sculpture that will display in the shelter’s lobby.